Cutting apparatus



J 1943. c. c. M CAIN CUTTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1942 Jan. 19, 1943.

MCCAIN CUTTING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1942 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan. '19, 1943. C. c. M Am 0 -v CUTTING APPARATUS Filed ma 12, 1943 3'Sheets-Sheet a Patented Jan. 19, 1943 iliE SAYS CUTTING APPARATUS Cecil 0. McCain, Glen Ellyn, 111., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 12, 1942, SerialNo. 442,722

9 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for cutting quartz crystal slabs from mother crystals.

Quartz crystal plates are used, for example, in filters in the communications art and these plates are produced from slabs first cut from mother rcystals. Due to th brittle nature, the granular structure and the natural hardness of "mother crystals and to the necessity of cutting the crystals with a predetermined angular relation to their optical axis, the production of slabs of the desired characteristics is quite amcult and painstaking.

An object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved cutting apparatus for economically and accurately cutting slabs from mother quartz crystals.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, there is provided a cutting apparatus comprising an adjustable support for a crystal whereby it may be mounted for movement into various angular positions relative to a plurality of rotating cutting or saw blades, the support being mounted on a pivotal arm for arcuately carrying the crystal into engagement with and through a cutting operation by the rotating blades, the arm being actuated by a weighted hand lever which constantly presses the crystal against the blades by gravity and holds it in a given path. During the cutting operation, the pivotal arm is given a slight up and down or reciprocatory motion by means including rotating eccentrics, thereby given a similar movement to the crystal relative to the blades, which serves to increase the cutting action, produce a more accurate cutting of the crystal while held in a given path and allows the blades to more efliciently carry the cutting fluid to the crystal.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are opposite side views of a cutting apparatus having outer side plates removed and embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec tional view of Fig. 1, partly in elevation, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in'elevation, taken along the irregular line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken ,on the'line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is adapted to be used for either diamond saw or muck saw action with a minimum of changes, in a manner which will be described hereinafter. In the diamond saw action, rotary circular steel blades, peripherally studded with diamonds, are used to cut the crystal simultaneously into a plurality of joined slabs. The muck saw action is furnished by rotary circular steel blades charged with a cutting grit which is picked up by the blades as they rotate in a container holding a mixture of grit and liquid. In the diamond saw action, the container is supplied with a coolant for cooling and lubricating the blades as they rotate therethrough. In either setup, the crystal is pressed against the blades during the cutting operation and simultaneously therewith a slight up and down or reciprocatory movement is imparted to the crystal relative to the blades to increase the cutting action and produce a more accurate cutting of the crystal.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and i, in which the cutting apparatus is set up for a muck saw action, l0 indicates a frame of structural steel upon which is secured a housing comprising a pair of spaced vertical cast iron frame bearing members I I and I2 (Fig. i). The members H and I2 are recessed at their outer sides, as indicated at I3 and it, the recesses being closed over by removable side plates ll. At their lower ends, the members i l and I2 are formed with-spaced aperturedbosses 98 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) through which extend reduced portions of shouldered tie-rods it having nuts 25 threaded onto their ends, the rods and nuts serving to retain the frame members in spaced unitary relation. Extending across the top and along opposite sides of the apparatus between the frame members H and 12, as viewed in Figs. 3 and i, is a housing of relatively light metal comprising a readily removable member 23, which rests upon an angle iron U-shaped frame 24 fixed to inner opposed surfaces of the frame "members II and I2, the frame 2% at its right end (Fig. 3) carries a wall 25 and opposite side walls 26. The housing member 23 is provided with openings in which are suitably supported transparent cellulose acetate sheets 2?, which permit an operator to view the cutting operation without removing the member 23. between and secured to the frame members II and i2 is an L-shaped water tight tray 28 having at its right end (Fig. 3) vertical walls 29 Supported above the tie-rods I9 which, at their upper ends, overlap the lower edges of the walls 25 and 26 carried by the frame 24. The tray 26 is used in the diamond saw setup and then contains a coolant and lubricating liquid supply for replenshing a pan 36 suitably carried on the frames II and I2 and in which the blades in either muck saw or diamond saw setup rotate. The means provided for replenshing the pan 36 from the tray 28 will be referred to later. The apparatus, at its left side (Fig. 3), has a removable wall 32, which extends between the lower edge of the housing member 23 and the top edg of the left vertical end wall of the tray 28.

Rotatably mounted in the frame members H and I2 (Fig. 4) is a multi-section shaft 33, on which are suitably spaced and secured a plurality of circular saw blades 34 of soft steel and plain cutting edges. The shaft 33 comprises a hollow shaft 35 having a head 31 at its inner end which abuts a head 38 on the adjacent end of an intermediate shaft 39, which carries the blades 34. The adjacent end of the shaft 39 has a tapered portion 46, which fits into a complementary tapered opening in the headed end of the shaft 35. Extending through the hollow shaft 35 is a rod 4|, which is screw-threaded at its inner end for engaging in a threaded aperture in the tapered end portion 49 of the shaft 39. with a hand grip 44 for turning the rod into and out of the threaded aperture in the portion 46 of the shaft 39, the inner reduced diameter of the grip being tapered and rotatable on a similarly tapered inner surface of the hollow shaft 35. As the rod 4| is threaded into position, the shafts 35 and 39 are drawn and gripped together along the tapered surfaces of theshafts and thus will rotate together. At its right end (Fig. 4), the shaft 39 is rotatably connected to the inner end of a hollow shaft 45 by a slidable key connection, indicated in general at 46.

The shafts 35 and 45 are journalled in ball bearings, the bearings for the shaft 35 being mounted in a hollow bearing support 59 integral with the frame member A removable hollow bearing support carries the bearings for the shaft 45 and such support is held in a split support 52 integral with the frame member l2, the split support being gripped to the bearing support 5| by a hand screw 53. The shaft 45 is shouldered at its inner end, as indicated at 54, and the support 5| is shouldered at 56; thus the shaft is prevented from moving longitudinally after being connected to the shaft 39 by the slidable key connection 46, as shown in Fig. 4. To remove the shaft 39 with the attached blades 34 from the apparatus, after removing the side plates l1 and housing member 23, the rod 4| is unthreaded from the portion 40 of the shaft 39 by means of the hand grip 44. Thereafter, the hand screw 53 is turned to release the split support 52 from the bearing support 5|. The bearing support 5|, with the shaft 45, may now be slid longitudinally towards the right (Fig. 4), thus separating the slidable key connection 46 and permitting the shaft 39 to be slid longitudinally towards the right to withdraw the shaft portion 40 from the head 31 of the shaft 35. The shaft 39, with the blades 34, is now free to be removed from the apparatus and replaced by another assemblage by a reversal of the procedure above described.

At its outer end, the rod 4| is equipped A supporting head for a mother crystal 51 to be cut into a plurality of slabs by the rotatable blades 34 is indicated, in general, at 53 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6). The head 58 comprises a hollow member 59, which is rotatable on a vertical rod 60, which is keyed at 6| to a pivotal and reciprocable lever 62, which will be referred to hereinafter. Rotatably adjustable about the horizontal axis of the member 59 is a circular plate 63, to which the crystal 51 is cemented, with a glass plate 64 therebetween, the latter preventing the plate 63 from being marred by the saw blades 34, when they near the end of the cutting operation. The plate 63 is provided with opposite arc-shaped slots 65, through which extend screws 66, which are threaded into apertures in one of two pairs of diametrically opposite lugs 61 on the member 59. Two pairs of lugs 61 are provided on the member 59 so that the plate 63 may be adjusted in 45 steps around the member 59 and at each of the adjustments the plate may be further adjusted for a limited distance in either direction by means of the slots 65. The uppermost lug 61 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) is provided with a suitable scale (not shown) on its arcuate edge and the plate 63 has index marks 68 (Fig. 3), one at each lug or 90 apart on its peripheral edge for facilitating the adjustment of the plate 63 on the member 59. The crystal supporting head 51 is also rotatably adjustable about the vertical axis of the nonrotatable rod 66. To facilitate the latter adjustment, the member 59, at its lower side, has an integral arm 69 having an arc-shaped outer inclined end face provided with a suitable scale 1| (Fig. 5). To the rod 66 is also fixed an arm 12, which is below and abutting the arm 69 on the member 59 and an arcuate outer inclined end face of the arm 12 is provided with an index mark 13 to facilitate the setting of the head 58. Extending through an arcuate shaped slot 14 in the arm 69 is a clamping screw 15, which is threaded into an aperture in the arm 12. Upon loosening the screw 15, the head 58 may be turned horizontally on the rod 69 to a desired angle in either direction, as limited by the length of the slot 14, and then clamped in such position by the screw. By the proper adjustment of the plate 63 and head 58, the crystal 51 carried by the plate may be adjusted to any desired angle relative to the optical axis of the crystal.

'Mounted for rotation about a fixed axis in the frame members H and l2 is a rock shaft 13 to opposite ends of which, outside the end faces of the members, are keyed levers 19 and (Figs. 3 and 4). Fixed to and interconnecting the free ends of the levers 19 and 86 is a bar 6|, which extends through arcuate shaped slots 82 in the frame members and I2. The lever 89 15 of the bell crank type and to the free end of a second arm 83 thereof is attached a hand lever 85. The crystal supporting head lever 62, previously mentioned, is of irregular shape and bifurcated at its lower end, the furcations being apertured at their lower ends and interconnected by and freely rotatable on a hollow shaft 86 through which extends the rock shaft 18. The diameter of the shaft 18 is appreciably smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow shaft 86 to permit an up and down or reciprocatory movement of the lever 62 radially of the shaft 18 during the cutting operation and in all angular positions of the lever. At their upper ends, the furcations of the lever 62 are formed with aligned slots 81 providing rectilinear guideways in which is freely fitted the bar 8|, The

slots 81 are of such length that'the furcations of the lever 62 are at all times operatively engaged with the bar 8| during th'e'reciprocatory movements of the lever. .Atits upper end, the lever 62 is provided with a split head 88 for receiving the rod 60 of the head 58. By means of clamping screws 89, the :rod 60, which carries the crystal supporting head 58, may be readily secured to or released from the lever head 88 and the key 6I insures a similar angular position of the head 58 on the lever 62 each time a change is made.

It will be noted that by means of the hand lever 85, levers 19 and 80, rock shaft 18 and bar 8|, the lever 62 may be rocked counterclockwise'on its hollow supporting shaft 86 from its normal position (Fig. 3) to initially engage the crystal 51 carried thereby with the blades 33. Connected with the lever 85 is a hydraulic dash pot 92 (Fig. l), which is pivoted at 93 to the frame I2. The dash pot is effective to prevent rapid movement of the weighted lever in either direction and particularly when engaging the crystal 51 with the blades 34. The hand lever 85 is equipped with an adjustable weight 94, which constantly presses the crystal 51 during the cutting operation against the blades 34 after the lever is released from a latch 95 and rocked counter-clockwise (Fig. 1), to engage the crystal 51 with the blades 34.

A laterally adjustable carrier or table 36 is supported on rails 99 (Fig. 3) fixed to the spaced frames II and I2. Pivoted at I to the table 36 is a lever IOI, to which is fixed the hollow shaft 86, previously described. At opposite ends of the lever IOI, as VieWedin Fig. 4, are pivoted at I 92, levers I03 which depend therefrom and are operatively connected at their lower ends to cams or eccentrics I06 fixed to a continuously rotating shaft I01 journalled at its right end (Fig. l) in spaced bearings I08 in the table 96, the shaft being slowly rotated. As the shaft I01 rotates, due to the eccentrics I06, the levers I03 and I0! will be given a slow slight up and down motion and through the hollow shaft .86, which is fixed to the lever I 0I, the lever 62, which is journalled on the shaft 86 and which supports the crystal carrying head 58, is given a similar up and down 'motion. This motion will take place in all positions of the lever 62 and simultaneously with the continuouscounterclockwise or arcuate movement of the lever during the cutting operation under the influence of gravity, due to the weighted hand lever 85.

At its left end (Fig. 4), the shaft I01 is journalled in roller bearings carried in a box-like frame I09 fixed to the frame II, the shaft I01 being keyed at IIO to a worm wheel H3. The arrangement is such that upon adjustment of the table 56, which will be presently described, the shaft I 01 is permitted to move longitudinally in either direction with the table without disturbing the position of the worm wheel. .Fixed to a lower face of the table 96-is a threaded nut II4 carrying a screw H5, which is suitably held from longitudinalmcvement. At its right end (Fig. 4), the screw extends through the frame I2 and carries a crank H6, which, upon rotation, will cause the table 98 and the various elements carried thereon to move parallel to the shaft 33 supporting the blades 34. Thus, the lever 62, which carries the crystal supporting head 58, may be adjusted in either direction longitudinally of the shaft 33 to position the crystal 51 relative to one,- any number of or all 7.5'

of the blades 34. This adjustment is particularly useful in cutting a: singleslab from the crystal 51, which is done first for test purposes. The shaft 33 for driving the blades 34 and th -shaft I01, which drives the eccentrics I06, are continuously driven at suitable different speeds during the crystal cutting operation from a motor IIS mounted on rods I20 fixed to'the frame II. From a pulley I2I on the motor shaft, the drive is by a belt I22 to a pulley I23 on a jack shaft I26 j-ournalled in a bearing I21 carried on the rods I20. Also fixed to the shaft I26 are pulleys I28 and I29 (Fig. 4), the pulley I28 being connected to a pulley I30, fixed to the section 35 of the blade shaft 33, by a belt I33. The pulley I29 is connected to a pulley I34, which is fixed to a shaft I35 journalled in the box frame I 09, by abelt I36. Fixed to the shaft I35 is a bevel gear I31, which meshes with a similar gear I40 fixed to a vertical shaft I4I' journalled in the box frame I09. Carried on the shaft MI is a Worm I42 meshing with the worm wheel I I3 keyed at H8 to the longitudinal movable shaft I01. The above described drive from the motor to the blade shaft 33 is for muck saw action, in which case the blades 34 pick up a mixture of grit and liquid from the pan 30 (Fig. 3) as they rotate through the cutting compound. To set up the above described crystal cutting apparatus for diamond saw action, it is merely necessary to remove the shaft 33 in the manner previously described and mount thereon either the same or another similar shaft with other blades appreciably smaller in diameter and peripherally studded with diamonds. The R. P. M. of the muck blades is considerably slower than that of the diamond saw blades and, therefore, the drive from the motor II9 to the shaft 33 carrying the latter blades will be changed to provide this greater speed. In one example, this is readily effected by removing the pulley I28 from the jack shaft I26 and attaching it to the motor shaft, which is of suitable length, as indicated, to receive it and then using the belt I33 to directly connect the pulley I28 on the motor shaft to the pulley I30 on the blade shaft 33. It will also be apparent that the shaft 33 may be equipped at all times with a pulley for this latter drive, which may be of the same diameter as the pulley I28 or may vary therefrom depending on the desired speed of the blade shaft, the pulleys being connected by a suitable length belt when the change-over is made.

As previously mentioned, the tray 28 is used in the diamond saw set-up and at such time holds a coolant and lubricating fluid for replenishing the pan 30. Depending from the bearing I21 (Fig. 4) is a bracket arm I85, which carries a suitable pump indicated, in general, at I86 and driven from the shaft I35 by means of a coupling (not shown) which, when in use, is attached to aligned ends of a pump shaft I41 and the shaft I35. The pump I46 has been omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake of simplicity. The inlet side of the pump I46 is connected to the bottom wall of the tray 28 by piping I48 terminating in a strainer I49 (Fig. 3') and the outlet side is connected by piping I50, which passes through the pan and terminates in a flexible extension I5I equipped at its end with a hook-like end piece I52, which rests upon the upper edge of the pan 30 and directs the liquid thereinto. The tray 28 is equippedwith an overflow pipe I53, which may drain into a receptacle I54. The levels of the mixture of grit and liquid in the tray 28 during the "muck" saw set-up and that of the coolant and lubricating liquid in the diamond saw set-up is indicated in Fig. 3 at I55.

The operation of the apparatus, it is believed, will be understood from the above detailed description Without a general description of operation. It will be understood that a mother" crystal 5'! to be cut up is first examined and its optical axis determined and then marked to indicate the same. The crystal 5! and the glass plate 64 are cemented to the head plate 63 after its removal from the head 58 and then the plate is mounted on the head, which is also at this time removed from the apparatus. Thereafter, the plate 63 and the head member 59 are adjusted in the manner previously described until the optical axis of the crystal bears a desired angular relation to the cutting blades when the head is finally predeterminedly angularly mounted on the lever 62 by means of the key BI and clamped to the lever by the screws 89.

The apparatus is then set in motion and the hand lever 85 unlatched and rocked counterclockwise carrying with it the rock-shaft 18 and lever 62 and thereby the crystal 51, which is engaged with the rotating saw blades 34 and thereafter, due to the Weight 94, the crystal is constantly pressed against the blades and held in a given path. Simultaneously with the gradual counter-clockwise movement of the crystal, it is continuously being given a slight up and down or reciprocatory motion guided by the bar 8| riding in the slots 8'! of the lever 62, the reciprocatory motion being effected by the rotating eccentrics I06. These combined movements of the crystal, while engaged with the rotating blades 34, provide an increased cutting action and at the same time a more accurate cutting of the crystal. It is to be understood that the blades 34 do not out completely through the crystal, but upon removal from the apparatus, the crystal is easily broken into a plurality of slabs.

While the features of this invention have been described in connection with a specific structure for sawing or cutting quartz crystals to produce slabs, it should be understood that modifications can be made and it is capable of other applications.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a reciprocatory work support for holding work to be out, an oscillatory arm, said work support being pivotally mounted on said oscillatory arm, means for guiding said support along a rectilinear path during oscillatory movements of said arm and simultaneously urging said work support about its pivotal mounting toward the cutting element, and means for oscillating said arm to cause reciprocation of said work support on said guiding means.

2. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a reciprocatory Work support for holding work to be cut, an oscillatory arm, said work support being pivotally mounted on said oscillatory arm, said pivotal mounting comprising a hollow shaft, means for guiding said support along a rectilinear path during oscillatory movements of said arm and simultaneously urging said work support about its pivotal mounting toward the cutting element, said guiding means means for oscillating said. arm to cause recipro-- 76' for directly" carrying work adjustable on said cation of said work support on said guiding means.

3. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a work support, an oscillatory bearing upon which said work support is journalled, means operatively connected to said work support to initially move the same about said hear-- ing to engage the work with said moving element, said means movable thereafter about said bearing by the action of gravity to cause the element to cut the work, means for guiding said work support along a rectilinear path during oscillatory movements of said bearing, and means for oscillating said bearing simultaneously with continued movement of said work support about said bearing during the cutting operation.

4. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a pivotally mounted support for carrying work to be cut in an arcuate path to engage and feed the work to said element, a bearing upon which said work support is journalled, said bearing being mounted for oscillatory movement during movement of said work support thereon in an arcuate path, means operatively connected to said work support to initially move the same about said bearing to engage the work with and thereafter feed the same to said element to cut the work, means for oscillating said bearing, and means for guiding said work support in reciprocatory movements simultaneously with its continued arcuate movement during the cutting operation.

5. In a cutting apparatus, a rotating cutting member, a work support, means for moving said work support in an arcuate path to engage and feed the work to said member, said means comprising an oscillatory bearing on which said work support is journalled, pivotal means including an element operatively engaged in rectilinear guideways on said work support to initially move the same about said bearing to engage the work with and thereafter to feed the same to said member to cut the work, and means for oscillating said bearing to cause reciprocation of said work support on said element simultaneously with the continued movement of said work support about said bearing during the cutting operation.

6. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a pivotally mounted lever, adjustable work supporting means mounted on said lever for adjustment to a plurality of angular positions to predeterminedl-y position the work relative to the plane of movement of said element, said lever being movable in an arcuate path to engage and feed the work to said element, a pivotal mounting for said lever comprising an oscillatory bearing upon which said lever is journalled, means operatively connected to said lever to initially move the same about said bearing to engage the work with and thereafter to feed the same to said element to cut the work, means for guiding said lever along a rectilinear path during oscillatory movement of said bearing, and means for oscillating said bearing simultaneously with the continued movement of said lever about its bearing during the cutting operation.

7. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting element, a pivotally mounted lever, a work supporting head having means cooperating with said lever for detachably mounting it in a predetermined fixed position on said lever, said head comprising a member adjustable in one plane on said mounting means and a second member first member in a plane disposed at an angle to said first plane for predeterminedly positioning the work relative to the plane of movement of said element, and means operatively connected to said lever for moving it in an arcuate path to engage the work with and thereafter feed the same to said element to cut the work.

8. In a cutting apparatus, a rotating cutting' element, a pivotally mounted support for carrying work to be cut in an arcuate path to engage and feed the work to said element, a pivotal mounting for said work support comprising an oscillatory bearing upon which said work support is journalled, means for laterally adjust 9. In a cutting apparatus, a moving cutting member, a pivotally mounted support for carrying work to be cut in an'arcuate path to engage and feed the work to said member, a pivotal mounting for said work support comprisingan oscillatory bearing upon which said Work support is journalled, pivotal means including an element operatively engaged in rectilinear guide- Ways on said work support to initially move the same to engage the work with and thereafter by the action of gravity to feed the same to said members to cut the work, a pivotal member supporting said bearing at a point surrounding the pivot of said pivotal guide means, a rotating eccentric operatively connected to said pivotal member for continuously imparting reciprocatory movements to said pivotal work support while the. latter is rectilinearly guided upon said element simultaneously with its continued arcuate movement during the cutting operation.

CECIL C. MCCAIN. 

